A Writer for Hire

It has been a while, but Regina Baker and I are finally recovering from the holidays and picking up our cross blog conversation. You can scroll back a few posts if you need to catch up. It’s my turn to answer the question so here is what Regina asked:

Hey Alyssa,

It’s that time of year again where most people make new year resolutions, write out their goals and start new businesses. I never commit to new year resolutions, so I don’t make them however, I did reflect “back” on what I did last year including the ups and downs, mistakes, etc. I saw a very interesting message today that spoke of “leveraging off your past experience in your current business,” with that said Alyssa, if you had one thing that you could change or “leverage” from in 2007 (pertaining to business) to now, what would that be?

Regina

Well, Regina,

At first I was a bit scared by this question. I sat staring at the screen a bit mortified. It could be that it was 11pm and I I had been working hard all day, so my brain was fried, but, it is a scary question even this morning with a clear brain. After thinking on it, I have decided that the one thing that I need to change in 2008 or leverage off of from 2007 is to not be afraid. Last year, I realized when I began doing writing late in the year that others respected me and believed in many of my abilities more than I did. I need to leverage that. I need to not be afraid to step out and try something new or go for something that I want for my business. If it had not been for someone else’s belief in my writing this website would not be in existence and I would not be writing for others.

Now, I’m ready to begin 2008 with a new found ability to try new things. In fact, not only am I continuing as a Writer for Hire, but also I just created an affiliate program for Beauty by Design Ministries and I am officially launching it on Monday, January 7. Everything is up and ready to go so if you’d like to be an affiliate of mine head on over there and sign up. This is just one of the new strategies I plan on trying to make 2008 a successful year.

Now, Regina, It is my turn to ask the questions. Considering I have been having to face my fears lately. “What is your biggest fear?”

Blessings,

Alyssa

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Alright it’s time I got back to Regina on her latest question in our CBC (cross blog conversation).  If you have missed out on it you can begin by reading our first post here.

“Have you ever had moments where you just wanted to throw in the towel and forget this online business stuff? If so, who or what kept you from making the decision to hang it all up and why?”

Regina,

This is a great question and of course it is so relevant to me I have definitely wanted to “throw in the towel” . I have been trying my hand at online business part time on and off since January 2005. I came home full time in January of this year (2007) to give this my full attention. My main goal was to grow my ministry, Beauty by Design Ministries, however this was not bringing in any income. And to be honest, I have always felt a little uneasy about making money from my ministry. I know, this isn’t something that I should feel guilty about but for some reason I always have.

So, as I have gone through these past 2-3 years I have always thought, “will this ever work”. However, I was determined that I was going to “work from home”. That and being my own boss was just something I have always wanted to do. So, even though I have “felt” like throwing in the towel, luckily I never have completely. And luckily, thanks to the ladies of Mom Masterminds, including the guru herself, Kelly McCausey and many other ladies over there I am still plugging along. And, thanks to this ghostwriting business I am feeling victorious in this “online business thing”. These ladies have truly made me see the potential of online businesses and have given me the tools I need to succeed.

Now, for a question for you Regina, “What has been your best investment for your business?”

Your blogging friend,

Alyssa

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Regina has answered my latest cross blog conversation question -

How did you get started in your online business?

You can find her answer here.

Regina asked me:

Have you ever had moments where you just wanted to throw in the towel and forget this online business stuff? If so, who or what kept you from making the decision to hang it all up and why?

I will be answering her question in the next few days here on my blog.

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To continue my cross blog conversation with Regina, I will point you over to her response to my first question just in case you need to catch up. Now, Regina asked me,
“How do you manage a business, your ministry and family on a daily basis?”

Wow! Can we so loaded question. This is a tough one because sometimes I wonder, “Do I?” Do I really manage it all and well? I guess the answer would be yes, I do, just some days better than others.

However, no matter what I will say with certainty that I manage it all due to the blessings that the Lord has given me. A wonderful, support husband who helps me with the little things and the big things. Also, I have to have my time alone with God daily or things just fall apart. I can tell on those days that I didn’t put HIM first.

I am also a huge planner and list maker. I utilize a paper day planner that is almost always with me and I also use online to do lists to keep it all together. I also love Microsoft Excel spreadsheets where I can keep up with lists of clients, jobs, deadlines, and etc. I use all of these tools to keep it all a flying.

Now, I have to ask you another question, I want to know more about your background so tell me Regina, “How did you get started in your online business? ”

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For the past few weeks I’ve been enjoying reading some cross-blog conversations around the web, starting with Kelly McCausey and Nicole Dean. I was inspired to do my own but was not sure who I wanted to converse with, until now. I have chosen to have my “cross blog conversation” with Regina Baker of Christians in Business Directory.

For a long time I have watched Regina from afar really in awe of her professionalism and her strong Christian stand online. I was very inspired by Regina and look up to her as a sort of “internet mentor”, though she does not know this before reading this. I have a great respect for what she is doing, teaching Christian business owners to go about “doing business by the BOOK without compromise”.

In the past few months I was blessed to be able to take part in Kelly McCausey’s Podcasting Intensive where Regina, myself and one other phenomenal lady, Marlo Boux were able to participate in this class together. I had a great time with these ladies and since such time have started a joint-venture with Regina and Marlo as a writer for ChristianPLR.com. This is a project that is still in the beginning stage, but we are all very excited about doing.

Now without anymore chit-chat here is my first question for Regina:

“What is your typical morning routine?”

After Regina answers I will post a link to her answer at her blog and she will followup with a question for me which I will answer here, so check back and if you haven’t done so add us to your feedreader, there is an easy button on the right sidebar near the bottom just for this.

Edited to add: Here is Regina’s reply and a question for me, find it here.

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